When I’m traveling the country for various conferences, I am amazed by how resilient we are in the social sector. We have truly been pioneers over the past four years — changing our business models during COVID, keeping our communities unified as we fight for the common good and now…

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” As a child, you likely heard this question. As adults, we still ask children this question to better understand their creative, young minds along with their hopes and dreams for the future. …

If you want a heartwarming movie to watch in these final days of summer, I highly recommend “The 33,” which is a real-life account of a mining disaster in Chile in 2010. Stories above and below ground intertwine to make the movie compelling and relatable. Ultimately, all 33 miners were…

Back-to-school season is upon us. For some students, it is routine. For others going to a new school, it can feel like stepping into the unknown. In many ways, first-generation college students are much like astronauts. Exploring uncharted territory always take a little longer than taking a known route. It…

We are always on the lookout for positive trends, especially from the for-profit space, to incorporate into nonprofit settings. Recently, we have heard a lot about great corporate cultures like those of Zappos and technology companies. When we dissect what makes these companies tick, the underpinning is always core values…

I am thrilled to share that I was just appointed as Faculty Director of Duke University’s Continuing Studies Program. In this role, I will be leading Duke’s Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership for working professionals. I have taught for the certificate program for 10 years and have big shoes to…

Summer is always filled with highly anticipated superhero movie releases, with towering men and women possessing superhuman capabilities to save the world. These superhero epics offer much in their approach that we as social sector warriors can leverage for our own change management efforts. Whether we are trying to pivot…

Tuesday the world celebrated Nelson Mandela Day, a day that brings people together to live the values of the late South African leader in honor of his birthday. He often used a quote attributed to author Joel Barker, and it’s one of my favorites: “Vision without action is merely a…

Americans have always been known for their generosity. Just as in other difficult times, Americans stepped up giving during the pandemic. Now, upon reviewing the Giving USA 2023 report — the social sector’s annual report — we saw trends that, not unexpectedly, showed declines as the economy shifts and need…